Phonograph-reproducer.



G. I.v CARTER. PHONOGRAPH REPRODUUER. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

991,424. Patented May 2,1911.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. CARTER, OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS TO THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, .A COR- PORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

PHONOGRAPH-REP RODUCER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

means for producing sound vibrations.

My invention has for its object the mounting. of the said lever in such a way that the stylus shall be free to move up and down and also horizontally or laterally in order to follow the sound record groove faithfully.

.I mount the lever upon a horizontal pivot pin in such a manner that the stylus lever is free not only to rock about the said pin in a vertical plane in tracking the sound record groove, but also to rock about the said pin in a horizontal plane and also to move bodily laterally upon the said pin in following the irregularities of the record groove. My construction also employs an elastic or spring means for maintaining the stylus lever cen-- trail}; in alinementwith the record groove and for returning the lever to said position I after deviation therefrom and for restraining its lateral movement upon the pivot pin.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a phonograph reproducer constructed in accordance with my invention, certain parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same, certain parts being shown in section; and Fig. 3 is a detail view similar to Fig. 2 of a. modified form of my device. I

The-reproducer shown comprises the usual body 1 within which the diaphragm 2 is clamped between gaskets 3 by means of the usual clamping nut 4. The floating weight 5 is pivoted at 6 to a block 7 having a shank 8 threaded within the body 1. The floating weight in the formof my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with a pair of depending lugs 9 and 10 within which is secured the horizontal pivot pin 1.1 upon which stylus lever 12 is mounted. Lever 12 carries stylus 13 and is connected to diaphragm 2 by means of link 14. Lever 12 is mounted upon pin 11 in such a way as to be free to pivot upon the same in a horizontal plane. I accomplish this by providing lever 12 with a bearing surface for pin 11 which closely fits the same only at a central longitudinal section of the lever 12. That is,-the lever 12 is given as nearly as possible merely a point contact upon pin 11 so that the lever is free to rock in a horizontal direction. This is accomplished by enlarging the hole the central section of the lever toward the two sides of the lever, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This enlargement of the hole results in-giving the latter an elliptical or circular sha e at the two openings of the orifice upon tlic sides of the lever, these openings being, of course, greater in diameter than the pin 11, the diameter of the hole midway between the two sides of the lever, however, fitting the pin 11 closely so that lengthwise movement of lever 12 is prevented.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 the lug 10 is some distance to one side of lever 12, spiral spring 15 bein coiled around pin 1.1 between lug 10 and t e adja' cent side of lever 12. A washer-16 may be interposed between spring 15 and lever 12. As shown, lever 12- normally rests against lug 9, but may move from suclrposition against the pressure of spring 15. If desired. it is of course obvious that a spring similar to 15 mighthe interposed on both sides of lever 12, but. I do not consider this construction desirable or necessary.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, a leaf spring 17 is used in place of the spiral spring. In this case lever 12 is mounted as before upon pin 11, an elongated washer or sleeve 18 preferably being mounted upon the extension of pin 11 to one side of lever 12, the end of leaf spring 17 being provided with an opening through which the end of pin ll. is passed, spring 17 thus bearing di rectly upon the end of sleeve 18. If desired. it is. of course, obvious that spring 17 might hear directly against the side of lever 12.

' in lever 12 through which pin 11 passes from Having now described my in'nntiomwhat of a body, a floating weight carried thereby,

a horizontal pin carried by the floating weight, a stylus lever pivoted upon said pin and free to move bodily thereon axially of the same, a stylus carried by said lever, said pin projecting to one side of said lever and yielding means arranged topressagainst the side of said lever and resiliently resist lateral movement thereof upon said pin, substantially as described.

'2. 'In a sound reproducer, the combina tion ofa body, a floating weight carried thereby, a horizontal pin carried by the floating weight, a stylus lever pivoted upon said pin, a stylus carried by said lever, said lever being provided with an opening from side to side through which said pin. passes provided with a close fitting bearing sur-- faceforsaid pin at the section of said lever midway between the two side surfaces there of only, and yielding means tending to maintain said lever in a central position, substantially as described.

3. In a sound reproducer, the combination of a stylus lever, ahorizontally disposed pin upon which said lever is pivoted said pin extendin through said lever from side to side and being longer than the width of said lever and said lever being free to move late erally upon said pin, fixed means upon one side of said lever, and yielding means upon the other side of said lever, arranged to restrain lateral movement of said lever upon said 'in, substantially as described.

4. n a sound rep'roducer, the combination of a stylus lever, a horizontally disposed pin upon which said lever is pivoted said pin extending through said lever from side to side and being longer than the width of said lever, and said lever being free to move laterally upon said pin, and yielding means laterally disposedto said lever arranged to restrain lateral movement of said lever upon said pin, substantially as described.

5. In a sound reproducer, the combination of a stylus lover, a horizontally disposed pin upon which said lever is pivoted longer than the width of said lever, said lever being provided with an opening from side to side through which said pin passes having a close fitting bearing surface for, said pin at the section of said lever midway between the two side surfaces thereof only, and said leverbeing free to move bodily laterally upon said pin, substantially as described.

6. In a sound reproducer, the combination of a. styluslever, a horizontally disposed pin upon which said lever is pivoted longer than the 'Width of said lever, said lever being pro- "ide'd with an opening from side to side through which said pin passes having a close fitting bearing surface-for said pin at the section of said lever midway between the two side surfaces thereof only, said lever being free to move laterally upon said pin, and yielding means arranged to press laterally upon said lever to restrain suc'n movement, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 17th day of Sept. 1909.

CHARLES- P. CARTER. 

